Promoting Critical Thinking and Scientific Understanding

Thursday, May 30, 2013

A “Celebration” of the Techniques of Sylvia Browne and other Psychic Entertainers

Presented by the Independent Investigations Group of D.C., the National Capital Area Skeptics and Center for Inquiry D.C.

On Thursday, May 30, “psychic” Sylvia Browne will be appearing at The Birchmere to present “An Evening of Insights and Live Readings.” The IIG, NCAS and CFI will also be presenting an evening of insights and live readings that same night at Busboys and Poets in Shirlington, VA from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm (4251 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, Virginia [map]). Sylvia's show costs $55 to observe and $99 if you want to ask her a question. Our event is even easier to get to than Sylvia’s, within walking distance of the Shirlington Village Bus Station, and best of all it’s FREE! Sound intriguing? Read on!

"How to Be a Psychic" will be two hours of fun and amazing (to some) social interactions where you might discover that you have hitherto unknown psychic powers - or that you're just reasonably OK at cold reading. Learn from a completely non-professional psychic instructor some of the same techniques that have given certain high profile entertainers lengthy careers and SERIOUS incomes. After a brief period of instruction, you'll have a chance to try out our new-found talents on others at the event. Then they'll have a chance to read you! And all for $99 less than what Sylvia Browne would charge you!

We also plan to show some video clips "honoring" Sylvia Browne and others like her, plus give every attendee their own "Psychic Bingo Card." And of course, you may enjoy whatever libations Busboys and Poets has available (not included in the cost of the event - which, did I mention, is FREE?).

Space for this event is limited, so if you plan on attending, PLEASE let us know by sending a message to rsvp@ncas.org.

IMPORTANT!: We don't want this event just to be "preaching to the choir." If you have a friend who is genuinely curious about those who claim to have psychic or clairvoyant powers, PLEASE bring them with you! (We promise we won't preach at them.)

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Have you ever ...
-visited the former DC residence of "psychic" Jeanne Dixon?
-stood on the sidewalk where Houdini escaped from a straitjacket while suspended upside down 100 feet in the air?
-paid your respects to the remains of the world's leading academic Bigfoot researcher?

On Saturday, May 11, you can!

The National Capital Area Skeptics is compiling a skeptic's guide to the area. This isn't JUST the DC edition of Tobin's Spirit Guide; it includes landmarks of scientific, pseudo-scientific and cultural significance to skeptics. On Saturday, May 11, we will publish the first edition of the online guide, and celebrate by taking it to the streets for a leisurely 2.5 mile walk featuring highlights from the guide.

We will meet at Dupont Circle Metro north entrance (Connecticut Ave. and Q St, NW) at 1:30 pm (Look for Chip and Grace Denman, who should be holding something with our Skeptical Eye logo). Approximately 90 minutes later, we will end at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History on the Mall. Along the way, we will point out locations corresponding to famous, infamous and just plain weird goings-on in the nation's capital.

The tour is free, and all are welcome. We encourage you to take Metro -- we start and end near Metro stops. PLEASE RSVP BY EMAIL SO WE HAVE AN IDEA OF HOW MANY ARE COMING.

The guide is an ongoing project for the National Capital Area Skeptics, and will include locations across the VA-MD-DC area. If you'd like to contribute suggestions, please write to SkepTour@ncas.org.